A Death in Two Parts Read Online Free PDF Page B

with Mark and Mary; Leonora and Ludwig had to conform or go to the wall. Patience well remembered with what an ill grace theyhad conformed, and wondered, as Mark steered the station wagon deftly through Leyning, what further vicissitudes of their career were covered by Josephine’s significant silence.
    Leaving Leyning, the car began to climb the long slope of the South Downs. “Too bad you’re getting back at night, Patience,” Mark said over his shoulder. “I remember how you loved this view.”
    Again Patience was surprised at the veil of friendliness he managed to cast over their previous relationship. “Nice of you to remember,” she said.
    â€œOf course I remember. We’ll walk over to the Great Crossroad tomorrow and you shall see the sea again – they’ve cleared the woods along the edge and you can see clear to the Isle of Wight.”
    â€œWe’ll have to see about tomorrow.” Josephine sounded faintly impatient. “Mother may not want to spare Patience so soon, now she’s got her back at last.”
    Patience shivered slightly. Suddenly she remembered the spider effect of old Mrs Ffeathers, sitting at the heart of her house, queen of the web, and allowing none of her children to escape. Was the same true of the grandchildren, she wondered? And were the silken meshes already preparing for her?
    She was tired and morbid, she thought, and saw with relief that the car was turning in at the great gates of Featherstone Hall. By the light of the headlamps she saw with surprise that those gates, and the pillars from which they hung, no longer stood up by a miraculous concession of gravity. The loose and decaying stones had been replaced, the heavy balls on which she had so often played ‘I’m the king of the castle’– only she never was; it was always Mark – were back on top of the gateposts. Even more than Josephine’s prosperous conversation, this made her realise what an improvement there must have been in the once depressed fortunes of the Ffeathers. What would old Mrs Ffeathers be like in prosperity, she wondered, if even poverty had left her a successful tyrant?
    The car stopped outside the porticoed front door and she soon had further opportunity to notice the improvement in the family’s circumstances. The big, shabby, comfortless downstairs hall had been transformed into something out of
House and Garden
; not, she thought, looking round at the pastel and aluminium furnishings, that it was in the least more comfortable.
    A musical-comedy maid to match the furnishings appeared in the far doorway. “Mrs Ffeathers is in her room,” she told Josephine. “She’s expecting you.” Nothing had changed, thought Patience, no one else mattered.
    Josephine dropped her fur coat on a glass seat. “Back to the dungeon,” she said. “Come on, Patience.”
    Mark laughed. “Good luck, Cinderella,” he said, taking the mink cape, “do your stuff, there’s a good girl. You’ve no idea how this family needs a scapegoat. But don’t let the old tartar get you down; we’re all on your side. I’ll have a nice big drink all ready for you when you come down.”
    â€œI wouldn’t be surprised if Mother wanted Patience to have supper with her tonight,” said Josephine repressively, but Mark was not to be quelled.
    â€œNot her,” he said. “She’s feeling so much better today she thinks she’ll eat with her dear children … so leave thatfrontless dress in the closet, Mama, acushla, and out with the black velvet and pearls.”
    Pearls, thought Patience, following Josephine up the big central stairway, pearls. Who? Why? A tall dark girl with glasses … the world was full of them. She shook herself, and followed Josephine Brigance into the big bedroom that faced the head of the stairway. Here, nothing had changed. The room was still heavy with red